Mitsubishi recalls electric cars for brake problem

February 5, 2013
by The Associated Press.

Mitsubishi is recalling 14,700 of its i-MiEV (EYE-meev) electric cars worldwide because a brake pump can fail.

The automaker said Tuesday that the recall affects 2012 models made from Dec. 2, 2011 through Sept. 7, 2012. It covers 1,400 sold in the U.S., including those still on dealer lots.

Mitsubishi said in documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a defective vacuum pump can stop working. That can reduce braking power, increase stopping distances and raise the risk of a crash.

Mitsubishi said no crashes or injuries have been reported.

The problem was discovered when the company got a complaint from a customer in Japan.

Mitsubishi will notify owners and replace the pumps free of charge. The company has not yet announced a schedule for the notification or repairs.

(PhysOrg.com) -- In what appears to be an increasingly crowded market, Japanese car maker Mitsubishi Motors has added two new versions of its i-MiEV model all-electric vehicle. Both are pint-sized sub-compacts, as opposed ...

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10 comments

The continual redesign of automotive and other parts for the express purpose of denying competition in the manufacture of parts, and to produce product lines that degrade through entropy once parts are no longer manufactured places a tremendous cost burden upon society.

By all means, redesign pumps to produce superior pumps. Otherwise stick with one of several standard models to reduce production costs, maintenance costs, and provide increased reliability.

The continual redesign of automotive and other parts for the express purpose of denying competition in the manufacture of parts

Have you considered that maybe it is a form of competition, not a denial of it, that motivates a company to do so? Also, most car manufacturers don't want third party parts because they have no control over them, and it would effect the integrity and reliability of a car with their name on it.

Such complicated things as cars are under continuous design and redesign, precisely because of competition, not a lack of it. Also, yes a part can be made more durable, but it would cost more. You as a consumer are free to choose a more expensive car made by a manufacturer that specializes in higher quality and durability.

Even my dog knows that American capitalism is a spectacular success. No one with any sense would deny that fact. How can I take your posts seriously, when you're even willing to lie to yourself.

You mean Ford and Chrystler are in competition to see who can make the worst possible power steering pump?

No, they're in competition to respond to demand. You can manufacture any product as expensive as you want to, and they do for a higher end market,... better quality, more durability, higher tolerances, etc.

Doing so would cost more to make and would result in less number of people being able to afford that car. They're meeting demand for a affordable car. As a consumer you are free to spend more for a higher end car.

Is that why the U.S. has a Dollar Store on every corner, all major retail outlets sell almost exclusively, Chinese made products, and the "real" U.S. unemployment rate is around 19 percent, and the U.S. federal debt is $16.5 trillion?

"Even my dog knows that American capitalism is a spectacular success" - NumenTard

Your dog is very smart for a dog. Not so smart when compared to a thinking person.

"Even my dog knows that American capitalism is a spectacular success" - Noumenon

Is that why the U.S. has a Dollar Store on every corner, all major retail outlets sell almost exclusively Chinese made products - Commie face

It's a global market. China offers labour in that market and is glad to do so. Just the three store chains, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, and Dollar General, employ 190,000 Americans, and most of the revenue stays in the USA.

....and the "real" U.S. unemployment rate is around 19 percent

Nope. The unemployment rate is 7.8% in the Obama economy. Some who work, not out of necessity, choose to leave the labour market. In any case, to employ 90+% even during a recession, is considered an astounding success for capitalism, by rational thinking people.

, and the U.S. federal debt is $16.5 trillion?

Obama, a liberal who shares your leftist mentality, is responsible for a full one third of that debt, .. and may even double it soon.

You can manufacture any product as expensive as you want to, and they do for a higher end market,... better quality, more durability, higher tolerances, etc. Doing so would cost more to make and would result in less number of people being able to afford that car. They're meeting demand for a affordable car.

So the idiot view is constant redesign of parts makes them less expensive than mass production.

The redesign of parts is a necessity to constantly improve (in function and reduced manufacturing cost) in a competitive market. Cars are constantly improving in reliability, to win the market share.

Why is it over 10 times more expensive to build a car from OEM parts than purchase the same car built for you?

If that were true, it would make sense for you to buy new cars, dissemble them, and sell the parts for a profit, even considering labour.

You fail to understand that OEM parts have the added cost of initial design work, as well as other enormous costs associated with car manufactures. The after market does not have such initial costs.

In any case, your claim is becoming increasingly false as more and more online OEM suppliers become available so one no longer has to buy them from the dealer, who traditionally made up for poor sales by selling parts at a profit higher margin as well.

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